Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum Tours

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A veritable ode to a bygone era, the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum helps visitors step back into time and immerge themselves in the nautical and maritime heritage of what once was the richest city in the United States of America. Unusually so—Key Westers became extraordinarily wealthy by savaging treasures and luxury goods in the numerous and frequent wreckages, a questionable habit that provided for the livelihoods of the early pioneers on the island. Wrecking masters would then control the salvage operation and later on auction off their finds in wrecking courts, with each good being awarded a profit depending on how long or dangerous the salvage operation had been.

Actors, films and artifacts tell the story of the treacherous Florida Keys reef and the many wrecks it caused, including the infamous 1838 Isaac Allerton vessel. The ship was 137 feet long and weighed 594 tons and served as merchant ship in and around the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean for almost 20 years, before it was caught in a hurricane off Saddlebunch Keys in 1856. Visitors are invited to discover the perils of shipwrecking and to climb the 65-foot lookout tower—where they can alert the authorities in case of a wreck and watch out for Spanish galleons!

Practical Info

The Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum is located in Northern Key West at 1 Whitehead Street. It is open from 9:40am to 5pm, 365 days a year, with the last show starting at 4:40pm. Entry costs $15.04 per adult, $12.90 per senior and $8.59 per child. Children aged 3 and under can visit the museum free of charge.

Discover a vital part of Florida’s history with admission to the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum. Explore two floors of artifacts from shipwrecks spanning 400 years, featuring treasures from the Spanish fleets of the 1600 and 1700s. Visit the 65-foot lookout tower that offers a spectacular view of the island. Check out the variety of audio-visual displays, including a below-sea-level theater, while storytellers in period costumes bring history to life with tales of the wreckers and their daring rescues. It’s a fun and fascinating experience for the entire family.

Discover a vital part of Florida’s history with admission to the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum. Explore two floors of artifacts from shipwrecks spanning 400 years, featuring treasures from the Spanish fleets of the 1600 and 1700s. Visit the 65-foot lookout tower that offers a spectacular view of the island. Check out the variety of audio-visual displays, including a below-sea-level theater, while storytellers in period costumes bring history to life with tales of the wreckers and their daring rescues. It’s a fun and fascinating experience for the entire family.

This 15-hour excursion to Key West provides transportation from Miami and free time to spend as you choose while on the island. Local attractions include the Key West Shipwreck Museum, the Truman Little White House, and the Ernest Hemingway House, which you can explore at your leisure before catching your ride back to Miami.